This coincides with my "Major events Of the '80s- Which Strike You?" post.

I picked other:  That scandal involving Jim Baker and porn star Jessica Hahn.  I remember when that was in all the papers

I remember the 1988 election, but wasn't paying all that much attention to it. It's also weird how I can't remember the Challenger explosion, but I can remember stuff that happened before that date.

The collapse of The Berlin Wall was a big thing back in 1989. I especially remember when the first slab fell opening up the two sides of Germany for the first time.

Unfortunately, I remember it all.

I remember 1980 when Ronald Reagan took office and the Iran hostages were finally set free.  We watched the events unfold in my English class.  Very emotional.

John Lennon being shot.

Ronald Reagan surviving the assassination attempt.

The Berlin wall coming down.

Space shuttle Challenger

1984 earthquake and 1989 earthquake in California

Let's see what comes to mind as I scan throught the 80's (although for what it's worth, I've already clicked on the Challenger). Incidentally, I am not using google (search engines etc; ) or any kind of  reference material for the following ....every date/'fact' is 'off the top of my head':

1980 .. Bjorn Borg wins his 5th Wimbledon in the highly acclaimed match with John McEnroe ... John Lennon is shot dead (December 8th) by Mark Chapman ... I believe Peter Sellers and Alfred Hitchcock died this year; Olympics in Moscow, boycotted by USA due to invasion of Afghanistan; Mt St Helens in Washington state erupts

1981 .. Attempts to assassinate Ronald Reagan & Pope John Paul II. McEnroe Dethrone Borg at Wimbledon, Muhammad Alis last professional boxing match against Trevor Berbick in Nassau, (The Bahamas).; Jimmy Carter hands over to Ronald Reagan, and the Iranian hostages are simultaneously freed.

1982 ... The Falklands War ... a real big deal for British people; Italy wins the Soccer World cup; Michael Jackson's Thriller album is released (although most tracks don't chart till 83 and 84)

1983 ... I pick my 1st winning horse in the annual Melbourne Cup (Australia's biggest sporting event of each year) ... the horse 'Kiwi' makes a dramatic sprint from last place to clinch the cup. Oh, and of course, Australia was on the map internationally  that year for taking the Americas Cup, (in yachting)  the longest held sporting trophy which I think the USA had defended for around 132 years.;Bob Hawke becomes Australian Prime Minister

1984 ... Indira Gandhi assassinated, Richard Burton dies, the Bhopal toxic leak in India, LA Olympics; Desmon Tutu wins Nobel Peace prize

1985 ... The world is shocked by the emaciated state of Rock Hudson, who quickly succumbs to Aids ... his death highlights this new deadly disease, and has a lot to do with 'safe sex' (condoms) becoming almost common practice. Other celebrities to die that year were Yul Brynner ('whatever you do, don't smoke') of lung cancer, and on the same day, Orson Welles. However, the major event of the year for many people is Live Aid, on July 13, which is a global event; Boris Becker becomes the youngest male (17) to win Wimbledon, and also the 1st unseeded player to do so. I think Mikhail Gorbachev came to power this year too ...

1986 ... Halleys comet appears for the first time since 1910, the year in which Mark Twain died (it had arrive the year he was born, and he correctly predicted it would re-appear in the year of his death). ... The Challenger Disaster on January 28 claims 7 astronauts ... a 'sick joke' circulates ...what does 'NASA' stand for ? (Need another seven astronauts) ....; James Cagney and Cary Grant bow out.

1987 ...Was this the year of the Iran-Contra hearings? (I think); I think Andy Warhol died this year, and maybe Lee Marvin; Aussie Pat Cash wins Wimbledon

1988 ...Australia's Bicentennial Celebrations; Seoul Olympics ... Ben Johnson stripped of his 100m Gold; the 8 year war between Iran and Iraq ends

1989 ...The Berlin Wall comes down; Tianammen Square; Nelson Mandela freed; 'Granny' of the Beverly Hillbillies dies, along with another great commedienne, Lucile Ball. Other deaths include Salvador Dali and Bette Davis; earthquake at Newcastle in Australia;George Bush senior starts his Presidency; Mikhail Gorbachev wins Nobel peace prize

Melbourne Cup Winners:          Oscar Best Picture Winners:            Wimbledon Men's Singles Champs:
1980 Beldale Ball                      Ordinary People                              Bjorn Borg
1981 Just a Dash                      Chariots of Fire                              John McEnroe
1982 Gurners Lane                    Gandhi                                          Jimmy Connors
1983 Kiwi                                  Terms of Endearment                      John McEnroe
1984 Black Night                        Amadeus                                      John McEnroe 
1985 What a Nuisance                Out of Africa                                  Boris Becker
1986 At Talaq                            The Color of Money                        Boris Becker
1987 Kensei                                Platoon                                        Pat Cash
1988 Empire Rule                        Rain Man                                        Stefan Edberg
1989 Tawriffic                            Driving Miss Daisy                              Boris Becker

If I've gotten anything wrong above, my excuse is it's gone 3am when I've attempted this, I've had a few drinks, and I'm feeling pretty tired... so there!

Oh, and apologies if I've forgotten some really major obvious landmark events of each year ... I'm bound to look later, and say 'how could I have left THAT out .....'

::) 8) :)

definitely the space challenger tragedy. :\'(

Mr Mister-

You are a varitable plethora of knowledge! I congratulate you!
Your post should definitely jog some memories!

I also recall the following, although I may not remember when exactly they happened:

The "USA For Africa" release of 'We Are the World'- 1983?
Famed strange singer Klaus Nomi dies of AIDS, one of the first celebrities claimed by it- 1983
Alfred Hitchcock dies- 1980
Ronald Reagan's famous radio blurb: "I have just signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever; we begin bombing in 5 minutes..."-1982, I believe

I mainly remember the Berlin Wall falling down. I remember the presidential election of George Bush Sr. I remember the 1988 Winter Olympics. And I'm sure I watched a few PGA tours with my Dad and saw some amazing golfers win, but I wasn't paying too much attention.  ;D

I remember them all but the Challenger sticks out the most.  I was a self centered teenager in the 80's and didn't pay more than a passing glance to the news.

The ones that stuck out the most were the Chernobyl disaster, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the Columbia shuttle explosion.

Tipper Gore Attempts To Ban Rock 'n Roll, In the Senate

Tipper Gore wanted to ban the senate from listening to rock and roll?

Here, all this time, I thought she wanted record companies to label their
releases with a rating system similar to the MPAA system for movies, silly me.

I remember John Lennon being shot and killed on Dec.8, 1980, The Assassination attempt on then President Ronald Reagan, The Challenger Explosion and the Destruction of the Berlin Wall

1980

Im not going to dwell too much on the tragic events but Im from NY and I do recall when John Lennon was shot, I was nine years old but honestly I didnt affect me I wasnt introduced to  beatles music yet . I had no idea the impact he made on pop culture. I remember the aura of sadness surrounding me.

On television I remember Dallas was highly popular. My sister and mother  became  so obsessed with the "Who Shot JR" episode. I think this is when I became obsess with daytime and nighttime soap operas.

When the US Hockey Team beat the Russians in Lake Placid. No one in my family thought we would win. The US we're truly the underdogs.

1981

I remember the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana (the first tv princess). I believe it was early in the morning. Anyway to me it was a long ceremony.

1984
Madonna Mania   enough said
The release of "Do they know its Christmas" by LiveAid prefer this single than USA for Africa "We Are the World"

1986

The Space Challenger.
My favorite sports moment when the NY Amazin Mets beat the Boston Red Sox. Damn that was  a great series.  I played hookey the next day just to go to the parade.

The remaining years well werent that memorable  to me than the first six years. Im pretty sure I'll post something new next time.  Im getting sleepy now. :o

Tipper Gore Attempts To Ban Rock 'n Roll, In the Senate

Tipper Gore wanted to ban the senate from listening to rock and roll?

Here, all this time, I thought she wanted record companies to label their
releases with a rating system similar to the MPAA system for movies, silly me.



No, the Ratings System resulted from the abortive attempt to ban rock music ENTIRELY.
Tipper Gore introduced a piece of legislation in 1988, that if passed would have (allegedly) made rock music illegal to produce, record, or sell.
The piece was pigeonholed almost immediately, and the result was Tipper going back to the drawing board, and she came up with the current Ratings System. :o

No, the Ratings System resulted from the abortive attempt to ban rock music ENTIRELY.
Tipper Gore introduced a piece of legislation in 1988, that if passed would have (allegedly) made rock music illegal to produce, record, or sell.
The piece was pigeonholed almost immediately, and the result was Tipper going back to the drawing board, and she came up with the current Ratings System. :o


Dude, where do you get your history? At no point did the PMRC (Parent Music Resource Center)
try to ban "Rock Music" The PMRC's main goal was to educate parents on explicit material found
in rock songs as well as other styles of music. After the " Porn Rock" senate hearings (1985)
The PMRC and RIAA (Record Industy Association of America) reached an agreement to place
warning labels on records containing explicit material.

the PMRC supports "...a voluntary, nonrestrictive consumer labeling plan for albums..." but they "...do not support
censorship" (Baker 1989)...Susan Baker, wife of Secretary of State, James Baker and co-founder
of the PMRC.

Moving on....

The only major event of the '80s I was a part of was the 1989 San Francisco earthquake ... and that was when my mom was pregnant with me.

I don't remember any of them, though I did exist for a few anyways like the Berlin Wall destruction.

I don't remember any of them, though I did exist for a few anyways like the Berlin Wall destruction.


I existed when the Soviet Union broke up, which of course happened in the '90s, but it was related to the '80s.

I existed when the Soviet Union broke up, which of course happened in the '90s, but it was related to the '80s.


I don't really remember much of that, though I remember my first globe from around 1992 or so was marked soviet union, so I did know of it's existance right about at the time it broke up.

I don't remember any of them, though I did exist for a few anyways like the Berlin Wall destruction.


Wasn't the Berlin Wall technically destroyed in 1990?

Wasn't the Berlin Wall technically destroyed in 1990?


I always thought it was 1989, lol. I'm not sure.

While most of those things stand out.  Especially the Challenger disaster.  The event from the I remember most vividly is the 1986 World Series because I witnessed it first hand.  The entire season, the Mets were electric.  It was an amazing year.